Another Side To The National 'Do Not Call' Registry

Another Side To The National 'Do Not Call' Registry

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Story Published: Jun 30, 2003 at 3:04 PM PDT

Story Updated: Aug 31, 2006 at 1:05 AM PDT

By Tracy Vedder

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SEATTLE - The national Do Not Call registry is a hit.

In just four days, more than 10 million people have signed up to stop telemarketers from calling. But there is another side to the story -- people whose jobs will be squeezed out by the new restrictions.

For many, telemarketing means just one thing: unwanted calls at the worst possible times. But one family's annoyance, is another's livelihood. Ron Blackwood is a divorced father of two: 8-year-old Josh and 4-year-old Jacob.

Ten years ago, telemarketing was the last thing Blackwood ever thought he'd be doing. But fate stepped in.

"I got stabbed with a piece of glass," says Blackwood. "It cut my bicep in half, I don't have a bicep any more."

He was disabled, and his previous construction work was no longer an option. And neither was public assistance.

"I wanted to find a way that I can do for myself and telemarketing allowed that for me and it gave me some self esteem," he said.

For 10 years, Blackwood has sold, mostly vacation packages, over the phone. And he spends plenty of time defending how he earns a living.

"The way other people look at me sometimes is the villain that calls during dinner, who won't leave you alone, who won't take no for an answer. I definitely take no for an answer," he said.

Now, with millions signing onto the national Do Not Call list, Blackwood fears there may not be many jobs left to defend. And he wants people to understand -- telemarketing isn't just an annoying interruption. It's a way for thousands of families like his to survive.

The telemarketing industry predicts it will lose two million jobs because of the Do Not Call Registry.

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